CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E6750

Our initial processor choice had been the Intel E6600. However with the recent launch of the new range of processors sporting a 1333 FSB and quite a few readers pointing out that the product is now available, we have decided to take the Intel Core 2 Duo E6750.  

The Intel Core 2 Duo E6750 which was introduced recently is a second generation product which has had its FSB bumped to 1333 MHz from the previous FSB of 1066. Like the E6600, it offers 4 MB of L2 cache and initial tests reveal that it overclocks as well as the 6600 did in its time. Priced at Rs. 9000, this is the best VFM processor available right now.

Motherboard: XFX 650i Ultra

XFX over the last couple of years has developed a very good reputation for its graphic cards and its exceptional after sales service. They recently branched off into motherboards with the introduction of Nvidia's 680 and 650 chipsets. The board we have chosen here is as its title suggests based on the 650i Ultra chipset which has native support for the 1333 MHz FSB. The board though lacking in onboard graphics, does offer a single PCIe 16x slot , 1 PCIe x1 slot , 8 USB slots 3 PCI slots and 4 Sata 2 ( 3.0 GB) slots.

The board is easily available at a cost of Rs. 5,400.

RAM: Kingston DDR2 667 RAM 2 GB

RAM prices have recently been going south and it's time take advantage of this. 1 GB of system memory is absolutely vital for system operations nowadays with the increased size and requirements of software. Kingston really needs no introduction. They have been making quality RAM sticks for a long time. Now available at a price of Rs. 4,250 with a 5 yr warranty, it’s the perfect product for our machine.
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Graphics:XFX 8800 GTS 320 MB

Nvidia’s domination in the graphic card market is near complete right now. Though ATI/AMD has recently launched a slew of DX10 products, they are only playing catch up. Nvidia now offers a variety of DX10 cards ranging from the budget 8500 all the way to flagship 8800 GTX XXX model. The card we have chosen here is the 8800 GTS 320 Mb, which is a mid-level gaming card and offers exceptionally good performance. This is simply due to the fact that unlike normal mid-level cards, which lose multiple features as compared to high-end cards, the 8000 GTS 320 MB, has only had its video memory scaled down. It retains all the other features of its elder brother and this makes it more than capable of running virtually any modern day game without any issues.

The card that we have chosen here is manufactured by XFX and it does not cost the earth. For a more detailed read on the performance of this chipset, please check out our comprehensive review.

Sound: Onboard: HDA Azalia 8 Channel High Definition Audio
Onboard sound has come a long way in recent years. Today's onboard chips are multi-channel capable, and can easily compete with lower-end sound cards like Creative's Audigy 2 ZS. The chipset that the XFX offers is an 8 channel chipset that offers great audio output in the music, video, and gaming.

LAN: Intel Gigabit Ethernet Controller 10/100/1000
This is the standard Intel Gigabit onboard 10/100/1000 LAN that gives a maximum transfer speed of 1000 Mbps. It is fast enough to take care of your broadband internet (most users have a connection speed of 256 Kpbs or 512 kbps). Though Gigabit LAN is already present, most home networks are only capable of handling 100 Mbps speeds. Hence, you have the right firepower in Intel's 10/100/1000 Lan.
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HDD: Seagate SATA II HDD 250 GB
Over the last few years the cost of hard drives have dropped drastically. Hard drives currently available offer an excellent cost advantage if you compare the cost of the drive vs. its storage.

Here we had to decide between Seagate and Western Digital. We chose to go with Seagate due to the excellent 5 year warranty they offer. The 250 GB we have, is built on the SATA II platform and offers more than adequate storage for all your music and video needs. With its price now under Rs. 3,000 the drive is now a great bargain.

Optical Drive: Asus DRW-1608P3S 16X DVD Writer
We carry forward this drive from our previous roundup as it remains amongst the best choices available at this price range.

This drive is an OEM product of Pioneer’s 111L drive and offers great compatibility with all kinds of DVD media which can be burnt easily at 16x without quality issues. The drive is also capable of writing to DL media, which can hold more data than any other media solution that is currently available. Pioneer also has some of the best read speeds of any DVD drive and can be easily converted to a region free drive, which will allow you to view any kind of DVD movie without any issue.
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Monitor: Viewsonic VG1930WM

Viewsonic as a brand that really needs no introduction. The VG1930WM we have chosen here is a budget 19-inch widescreen monitor with a native resolution of 1440x900, a response time of 5 ms and a contrast ratio of 700:1. One good fact that sets this 19-inch apart from others, is the fact that it has native support for DVI-D, which gives much sharper images and allows for richer color rendition.

Though wired desktop sets will be around for a while to come, the cost of wireless products has come down so drastically now, it makes no sense not to get one. As both Logitech and Microsoft offer wireless desktop solutions, we had to look around a bit to find the perfect combination for our roundup. The wireless 700 eventually won out over other contenders simply due to its pricing, ease of setup and use and excellent software support.

Cabinet: Cooler master elite 330/Cooler Master Extreme Power 600 W

There is no point in choosing good quality components like the ones we chosen above, if you are going to be using a "Saada Sastaa and Kaam Chalau" cabinet. It’s close to sacrilege actually and this is something that I can’t as a tech reviewer actively encourage. Well putting all “Senti emotions” aside, the ideal cabinet for our beast, comes from the Cooler Master range of products. CM as it’s popularly known, offers some of the best PC cabinets and PSU (Power supply units). The particular cabinet we have chosen here is a mid-size tower that comes with adequate cooling via a provided 120 MM fan and a front side 120 MM fan mount. It offers 7 expansion slots, 2 USB and 5 3.5 inch bays. The cabinet does not come with a power supply.

The power supply that we have chosen to accompany the cabinet is the Cooler Master Extreme Power 600 W. This excellent PSU is capable of not only providing 600 W of power for use, it does so at an efficiency of 70% and comes with full support for the newest Intel standard (ATX V2.01 12 W).

Speakers: Altec Lansing ATP3
Altec Lansing makes some great PC speakers that offer an excellent experience for games and movies. The ATP3 2.1 speaker system fits right into the budget category offering above average performance with some features that can be found in products twice its cost. The sub-woofer packs a punch and is capable of outputting 18 watts RMS. The speakers are also equally well powered and are capable of outputting 12 watts RMS.

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Pen Drive:1 Gb Transcend
There is nothing to really introduce here. A much needed accessory now days to carry your documents around, the Transcend 1 GB rounds up our feature

Eatables: Big Mac with a party of 3

After assembling this machine, I am pretty sure you must be pretty hungry. Well go to the nearest Big Mac outlet with friends and help yourself to a succulent combo of your choice. (We actually put this in to bring our figure to Rs. 66,666)

Specification Table